Tennis star Emma Raducanu shared that she struggles with trust, having faced disappointment and betrayal since her memorable victory at the US Open.
The 22-year-old British player is currently in Rome and is scheduled to compete against Australia`s Maya Joint in her opening match at the Italian Open later today.
In Italy, Raducanu has resumed her collaboration with Mark Petchey, previously Andy Murray`s coach, after they first worked together briefly in 2020.
World No. 49 is also accompanied in Rome by Jane O’Donoghue, 42, a familiar face who has frequently supported Raducanu throughout her career.
Before her first-round match at the Italian Open, Raducanu spoke about developing a strong sense of self-reliance.
The 2021 US Open champion commented, “I tend to be private and it requires a significant effort for me to share personal things.”
She added, “I haven`t genuinely opened up to many people throughout my life, but I do with those I deeply trust.”
Raducanu explained, “The point is, when I allow someone into my inner circle, I completely trust them and care for them deeply, which has unfortunately led to me getting hurt on several occasions.”
“Some individuals I placed a lot of faith in turned out to be different than expected, but that’s just how things are,” she reflected. “Thankfully, I still have wonderful, trustworthy people close to me, and I`m learning from these experiences.”
“Honestly, a part of me prefers not to discuss problems extensively, as it can feel like it amplifies them.”
“Therefore, I believe I am now learning to simply embrace each day as it unfolds and prioritize discipline regardless of my emotional state.”
Earlier this year, before rejoining Petchey, Raducanu had a short coaching partnership with Vlado Platenik.
Their collaboration ended before the Miami tournament after they worked together for only a single match.
Platenik was the seventh coach Raducanu had hired since her US Open victory.
In February, she experienced an incident involving a stalker while in Dubai.
After being approached in a restaurant the day before, Raducanu, visibly upset, took shelter behind the umpire`s chair while the individual was escorted from the seating area.
REFLECTING ON BEING PROTECTED
Discussing her difficulty with openness further, the British No. 2 commented, “Over the past few years, I`ve found it extremely challenging to place my trust in new acquaintances, particularly those who weren`t familiar with me before my US Open success.”
“Consequently, I now naturally gravitate towards people I`ve known for a while, and I`d say my close circle is smaller than it has ever been. I used to be very protected.”
“Until I was 18, I was primarily with my parents; they handled everything for me, creating a sense of invincibility.”
“Suddenly, after that turning point, many people entered my life, and I was hurt significantly, both in my career and personal life. Now, I am extremely guarded about who I allow close to me – like a fortress.”
Raducanu also revealed her desire to pursue further education.
During the mandatory break from tennis in 2020 due to Covid, Raducanu successfully completed two A-Levels, earning top grades (A* in Maths and A in Economics).
She stated, “Whether I`ll study for a third A-level and then pursue a degree is something I`m still considering. However, I feel I need some level of pressure and excitement in that aspect of my life.”
“I believe it would serve as a positive diversion, as when I was younger, tennis was my escape from schoolwork, and academics were my escape from tennis.”
“This balance ensured my entire existence and identity weren`t solely focused on just one pursuit.”
